Pics of my almost completed my first knife...

G

gixxer

Joined
Sep 21, 2006
Messages
1,472
Well, there it is. Knife #0001! You are looking @ a 154CM skinner, almost mirror finish (I was chasing tiny scratches for a week), 4 1/2" blade 5/32 thick, flat grind, full tang, canvas micarta handles. If you notice, the left scale has a flat cut in it for the thumb, I tried to make it a genuine right handed knife. Only problem is you are kinda dedicated to one or two grip positions, but we shall see. I picked 5/32" cause I wanted the weight and feel of a Knives of Alaska Big Game skinner. Looks nothing like it, but you definately know you have something in your hand. The handle has about the same curve as the KOA.

The pics are not perfect, I have not made the $75 light box yet. I left the discoloration in the tang stamp, it makes it stand out (well, I did not have a choice, dunno how to clean up inside there...) more. Let's have the good and bad opinions, please.


Check it.

PICT0088.jpg


PICT0087.jpg
 
I think for your first knife, you did an AWESOME job! Way to go! I can't tell from the photos, but are those corby's or loveless bolts in the handle? I really like the contour of the handle, looks quite comfortable. Great design also. I'm totally jealous! Can't wait to see more of your work down the road! -Matt-
 
gixxer that look's alot better than anything you could call a "first" knife!!...

Sweet work bro!!
 
fantastic flat grind. looks to be a real fine well thought out design and exceptional finish.
get that son-of-a-gun out there and use 'er. the sooner the better. first knife is critical., like falling off a horse, you gotta get back on, that is you don't want to turn her into a safe queen and just set and admire her. a real knife is meant to be used.
you are a knife maker.&^%@!#$
 
I'm impressed. Keep that one for yourself. You only make "one first knife". I don't have my first knife (and it was crude and unimpressive compared to yours), and I still wish that I had kept it.
 
It looks like you did quite well, TJR. Congratulations!:thumbup:
 
Very nice looking knife! If that's your first, I can't wait to see number 10!

-d
 
Really nice :)

I like that gentle bevelled curve on it in front of your initials.

Ugh .. I need to learn the names of the different parts of the blade .

Henrik
 
Brekfast said:
Really nice :)

I like that gentle bevelled curve on it in front of your initials.

Ugh .. I need to learn the names of the different parts of the blade .

Henrik
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All, thanks for the fine comments!! Brekfast, you are talking about the plunge cut. I got the curve by grinding the blade on the edge of a 6" disc. I completed that knife on a 6" disc edge down to get the plunge to line up. In retrospect, grinding edge down really bites. The plunge is not sharp cause of sloppy hand rubbing. I ended up purposely hand rubbing the plunge itself to soften the line after I lost the clean edge. It is half concave, half convex. Interestingly enough, it does not look sloppy. I need to figure out how to attach scales without having gaps. I tried my best to make everything flat, but I have hairline gaps in the middle. Maybe a third corby might alleviate that.

Serious question, how much would I charge somebody to make that for em? There are a couple guys @ work already prepared to give me money. Just as a random thought, I was thinking double the price for parts. So, let's say $75 or $80?? Forgot to mention that it was HT'ed by Mr Bos.

Thanks again for the kind words.
 
If I did that in 154cm, even with just the minor micro-tweaks that I would do, I'd charge more along the lines of $250 including sheath... You did good if you only have $35 into it.
 
gixxer said:
Serious question, how much would I charge somebody to make that for em? There are a couple guys @ work already prepared to give me money. Just as a random thought, I was thinking double the price for parts. So, let's say $75 or $80?? Forgot to mention that it was HT'ed by Mr Bos.

Thanks again for the kind words.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of factory knives of a lesser quality that go for quite a bit more than that. Don't let others take advantage of your eagerness and yearning to make knives, they should pay for your work, fairly.

I know my reply probably puts you in somewht of a delimma but you should get what your work is worth unless you're just going to give it away.

In the end, let your conscience be your judge. Remember, this is a crafted piece of cutlery, the only one like it in the world.

One other thing, always provide a sheath, it should be standard. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, many of the suppliers sell them. You can dye them any color you want if need be. If you provide high quality tooled sheath, that should be figured in as well.

Craig
 
I don't like posting right after myself but there is one more thing to consider...

You stated you had on $35 on it. That isn't necessarily true...there are other factors as well.

You have to factor in your sandpaper, your grinder, your drill press, your bolts...it goes on and on.

Additionally, not only your time, but a little bit of your soul went into it as well.

Craig
 
You are correct about the abrasives and such. That runs the cost up to $50+ for materials. I guess the reason why I was being so modest with the price is cause there is a paperthin gap from rivet to rivet down the length of the tang on top. Guess that is better than having gaps on the butt and guard. It's kinda like I busted my tail so hard on the blade finish, I did not really dry fit and adjust the scales enough. Anyhow, time to make a sheath!

I am also finishing up a 154 CM fillet blade, maroon linen micarta, 1/8 thick steel in the tang, ground down to 1/16 for the length of the 12" blade. That is a gift for the father in law. He wanted me to finish the blade to 220 on the belt, jump straight to 1000, finish with 1500 and buff. Kinda like a sloppy satin finish I guess. Definately looks different (:barf: kinda)...
 
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